The Managers of Heaven #2
“Souls are eternal,” he said slowly. “When we made love, we manifested a door this particular soul could walk through. We claimed it, shaped it with our genes and called it Kyle. You and me, we’re in an elite club that has privileged access to this soul.
We made one of the portals he can use. He belongs to us across space and time and dimensions and parallel Universes.
He’ll brush up against our lives. Maybe in an incidental way.
Or a profound way. We probably won’t realize it.
But he will cross our paths.” He sighed and pulled at his hair. “Or not. I don’t know.”
“You do know,” she said. “You’re the only one who does.”
“Tonight’s hard.”
“Lee, I’m so sorry I hurt you.”
“I know. I know you are and I appreciate you saying so.”
“Can I stay on with you a little longer?”
“Sure.”
“You’re not busy?”
“No, I’m just sitting on the front porch.”
“What is this place you’re staying. Tell me. Describe it.”
He did. She got on Google maps on her end and looked at the satellite view of the intersection of Oak Hill Road and Route 34. Liko took her on a guided tour. He wasn’t sure why he lied and said he was staying in one of the cottages. But it didn’t matter. Not tonight.
“And this guy, Dane. He’s cool?”
“He’s really cool,” Liko said. “Easy to be with. No bullshit, no drama, no expectations. And he’s in the club. His wife died a couple years ago.” He hesitated. “They were actually in an open marriage.”
“Really?”
“It’s not the right term. They and a third man were a… I won’t say throuple, he can’t stand it. They were together. Always together. It didn’t start out two and a third came along. They were all friends and it turned romantic.”
“But then she died.”
“Yes. And the other partner left him. So he gets it.”
A long breath in and out. “That’s good. I mean, good you’ve found a new friend who’s sympathetic. And you’re having an adventure.”
“Yeah. He’s friends with some good people so I’m slowly getting social again. But if I get all brooding and weepy, the farm has lots of places to disappear.”
“Sounds like you’re right where you’re supposed to be,” Janelle said.
“And you?”
“I got a little side job. At a dog groomer. I just wash dogs all day long. They’re good company. They don’t say a damn word, only gaze adoringly like I’m the best thing that happened since treats.”
“Oh, did I mention Heaven is full of dogs?”
“You did not.”
“Six are on the bed with Kyle. About fourteen more on the floor. All the dogs. The best dogs. He went to this seminar and got to watch the entire evolution of dogs from dire wolf to Labradoodle. You think IMAX 3D is cool, wait until you see the movie theaters in Heaven.”
“The popcorn must be out of this world.”
“It is. Perfect ratio of butter and salt. And it never gets stuck in your teeth.”
They were quiet a long time, listening to each other breathe.
“Lee, I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“I know. It’s behind us. It happened and it hurt me, but there’s precious little I give a fuck about right now.”
“I understand.”
“No, wait. That came out meaner than I intended.”
“It didn’t.”
“Let me finish. I don’t ever want to talk about George.
But I do want to talk about Kyle. You’re the only one I can talk to about him.
So whenever it’s a hard night like this and you want to text or call and say I miss him so much, I’ll pick up.
I’m his father and I’ll always answer in that context.
I’ll talk about Heaven and tell stories about his day.
I’ll use present tense. I’ll believe he’ll cross our paths again and help you believe it too.
Because we can do this however the fuck we want, and if we say in Heaven, we’re still a family, then that’s how it is.
Full stop. You and me are still us in that context. Fuck anyone who says otherwise.”
She was crying now.
“We’re not married anymore and Kyle is gone, but we can still be a family,” Liko said, his voice raising with the conviction. “Still be the portal for his soul. Still be us. It’s the only us that matters and we can be good to each other. All right?”
“In that context, I love you.”
“I love you in that context too,” he said. “I miss him so much.”
“You call or text me. I’m nowhere near as good as you at creating scenes, but I’ll do my inarticulate best.”
“What’s he doing?”
“He’s sleeping. Out like a light. Big day in court tomorrow but he’s not worried about it. He’s not worried about anything. Well, maybe his hair. But I assume the barbers in Heaven are pretty fucking lit.”
Liko smiled. “You feel a little better now?”
“Yeah. And I have a new game to play. Goodnight, Lee.”
“’Night, babe.”
Liko set the phone down on the side table and laced his hands over his heart.
He thought about a jovial barber having a ball with Kyle’s mop of tawny hair.
He pictured his son in a slick suit and tie.
Cufflinks and a pocket square. Shoes like mirrors.
A brisk morning in celestial court followed by lunch with Nostradamus.
Kyle would attempt to show off all his new knowledge and the prophet would reply dryly, “I know… I know… Kid, I know.”
Liko smiled, sipping a cocktail of happy sadness. Wondering why babe still fell so easily out of his mouth when talking to Janelle. Looking for his son in the stars. Believing that in Heaven, the three Greenmans were still a family.
“I love us,” he said softly, daring anyone to believe otherwise.